In a year like no other, we asked this year’s jury to share their impressions of judging ADFEST 2021 remotely.

Abhinav Tripathi, Executive Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup India (Audio Lotus, Film Lotus, Outdoor Lotus & Press Lotus jury)

“Doing the entire fest virtually felt strange, but also very special. We didn’t meet one another, but somehow, by the end of it, we all knew each other pretty well. I doubt that many juries will get to experience something like this once things return to normal, making this year’s judging truly unique.”

Arundhati Saha, Former Director, Marketing and Communications at Havas Group Asia Pacific, Singapore (eCommerce Lotus, Media Lotus & PR Lotus jury)

“It was an incredible experience being a part of the eCommerce, Media and PR jury at ADFEST. The finalists and the winning campaigns demonstrated the power of creative ideas that leverage strong insights and are executed with an authentic flair. It was also heartening to see the depth of PR campaigns, which were solution focussed and instrumental in building brand engagement and recall.”

Diederik van Middelkoop, Executive Creative Director at Amp.Amsterdam (Film Craft Lotus and New Director Lotus jury)

“It has been great fun judging ADFEST 2021, even though I know we would have all loved to be in the room together. Our conversations were inspiring and passionate, and I believe we all learned from each other. I should also commend ADFEST for how the judging was prepared and organised: seamless, flawless, and professional.”

Kalpesh Patankar, Chief Creative Officer MENA, VMLY&R Dubai (Jury President of Digital Lotus, Digital Craft Lotus & Mobile Lotus)

“We saw a few coherent themes this year, such as rewarding people for staying home, along with an optimism that was true and real and meaningful. As a group, we were looking for ideas that sympathize with the lives, feelings and what we all face as humanity together. Empathy, Diversity and Human-centric technology inspired us: we saw that creativity can really help people and also that bold ideas can make the power of the brand even more powerful.”

Yunjeong Jang, Global Creative Director, Cheil Worldwide, Seoul (Digital Lotus, Digital Craft Lotus & Mobile Lotus jury)

“I saw a lot of works that reflected the phases of the pandemic, and those that I could empathize with. I believe not only myself but all the judges were empowered by them, and even encouraged. It was an unforgettable experience having discussions and sharing opinions with great creatives across different countries through virtual judging.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners with all my heart, and I hope we don’t forget the ability that we have as creatives to lead positive change. Once again, I thank you for the encouragement and consolation that your creativity has given me in this difficult time.”